Effects of light and temperature on clock genes expression in amphibians and mammals: the pigment cell as a study model

• Grant number: 13/02131-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci
• Grantee: Nathana Fernandes Mezzalira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/50214-4 - Biological clock setting by light and temperature: phylogenetic aspects, AP.TEM

Abstract

Biological rhythms are evident manifestations of temporal organization which allows the organisms to occupy their temporal niche in the proper time. Internal clocks are responsible for the period of endogenous oscillation; however the adjustement of the endogenous clock is exerted by environmental cycles and, in this aspect, light-dark cycles are dominant. It is believed that the daily cycles of the organisms in response to the daily oscillations of light and temperature underwent the same selecting pressures during their co-evolution, resulting in the association between photoreceptors and endogenous oscillators. The photosensitive cells are the first component for light capture and identification of the light-dark cycle, and the photosensitive pigments themselves became membrane receptors able to capture photons. In mammmals, rods and cones are responsible for light signal transduction, and rhodopsin found in rods is also expressed in B16 F10 mouse melanocyte. In this cell type, proliferation is inhibited by visible light. However, the classic photoreceptors are not essential to adjust the mammalian biological clock; other retinal photosensitive cells, the intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cells (ipRGC) are essential for this function.The ipRGC cells express the photopigment melanopsin, which was initially cloned from the frog, Xenopus laevis, melanophore, and it is present in the retina of all vertebrates including man. Melanopsin is the main component for teh synchronization of the circadian clock. The photosensitivity of Xenopus melanophores and mouse melanocytes makes these cells the ideal model to analyse the effects of light and temperature on the expression of clock genes Clock, Bmal 1 e Per 1 in a phylogenetic perspective. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LACERDA, JOSE THALLES; GOMES, PATRICIA R. L.; ZANETTI, GIOVANNA; MEZZALIRA, NATHANA; LIMA, OTONIEL G.; DE ASSIS, LEONARDO V. M.; GULER, ALI; CASTRUCCI, ANA MARIA; MORAES, MARIA NATHALIA. Lack of TRPV1 Channel Modulates Mouse Gene Expression and Liver Proteome with Glucose Metabolism Changes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 23, n. 13, p. 24-pg., 2022-07-01. (17/24615-5, 21/01659-2, 14/16412-9, 20/04524-8, 18/23915-8, 18/16511-8, 13/02131-5, 12/50214-4, 18/14728-0, 17/26651-9, 21/09923-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MEZZALIRA, Nathana Fernandes. Effect of light and temperature on the mammalian clock genes expression: peripheral tissues as study model. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.